You don't need to be winning at this stage of the season...

**ben.carbonaro** · 2 April 2006, 05:07 PM

I agree, it's only the first game of the season and people are getting too carried away.

Get a grip people... there are 21 weeks to go before you can start saying such things.

***goswannie14*** · 2 April 2006, 05:14 PM

It's not how you start...it's how you finish that counts. We proved that last year.

**Red** · 2 April 2006, 05:41 PM

Yes, true. It's a marathon, not a sprint and all that. Another positive is that with a few other blow-outs this weekend, we shouldn't be too far down the ladder come Monday. And yes, Goodes is back, Hall is still here and I'm pleased to welcome Richards.

On the flip-side, Chambers is bloody ordinary and will need to do a lot to not to be the RWO whipping-boy. And these new maggots already seem to hate us.

Plus, I'm used to winning now -- and losing SUCKS! Especially to Essendon. So there's still a bit there to bitch about.

**Schneiderman** · 2 April 2006, 05:46 PM

Originally posted by Red
Plus, I'm used to winning now -- and losing SUCKS! Especially to Essendon. So there's still a bit there to bitch about.

Well you have to ask yourself whether you feel better about a team that fought 22 + 3 all the way to the line in Melbourne, or about one that whooped the spoon favourites by ten goals in Sydney (last year).

Next week is a more honest test for us, and in Mike Sheehan's words, we are still 4-6 weeks behind a team like Essendon in terms of preparation.

**dawson** · 2 April 2006, 05:48 PM

He who laughs last laughs loudest.

Last year we started began as ordinary as ordinary can possibly be and we know how that finished.

You want to finish the season at 22-0 but that will never happen. Furthermore, doing so, doesn't mean you are guaranteed to win the flag.

You never are until well into Grand Final day.

**Red** · 2 April 2006, 05:57 PM

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Well you have to ask yourself whether you feel better about a team that fought 22 + 3 all the way to the line in Melbourne, or about one that whooped the spoon favourites by ten goals in Sydney (last year).

Next week is a more honest test for us, and in Mike Sheehan's words, we are still 4-6 weeks behind a team like Essendon in terms of preparation.

I feel better about winning by ten goals.

**Pommie Swannie** · 2 April 2006, 06:24 PM

Finally sanity prevails!

So Rd 1 wasn't the greatest performance. But then the Swans players are quite a way behind the Essendon players.

They are also a fair way behind Port, but I definitely expect a much better performance (and a victory!) on Sunday.

Regardless, it's too early to be making predictions based on Rd1. People were made too look foolish last season after many more games!

Let's face it, to be in with a shout of going back-to-back, the Swans only need be in p.8 as a minimum!

**floppinab** · 3 April 2006, 08:32 AM

You're right of course but it would be nice to see us with a decent win loss after 7 rounds rather than sitting outside the 8.

Maybe the Swans should sell a new class of membership, Round 8 to 22, the "the last 2/3 season better performing Swans Membership" lol

**Gary** · 3 April 2006, 09:04 AM

I detect a great willingness to for give what was a pretty inept display (despite the impact of the umpires) apart from Hall & Goodes. "Early days" ... all that sort of stuff. I think a legitimate question is why did West Coast not suffer as much from the same set of potential excuses? I'd hate to think we miss the play offs by a game after that performance.
Chambers must have been promised one game, Richards IMO was very ordinary apart from a good mark (followed by a dreadful kick)...he is not going to be better than average...& that is not good enough for us to go forward. I don't agree with a pre season that provides such lame excuses for game 1.
Yes..next week will provide a clearer indication of where we are...but I don't like it so far.
IMO Jude Bolton is declining as a footballer apart from a willingness to put his head anywhere...brave but fading.
Glad I got that off my chest...go the bloods!

**hammo** · 3 April 2006, 09:27 AM

For all of Leo's heroics in the GF I think our inherent inability to handle gorilla full forwards over recent seasons has once again come to the fore...

We have always struggled to match Essendon's tall forwards and Sat night was simply another example.

We are lucky Tredrea is unavailable this weekend.

***NMWBloods*** · 3 April 2006, 09:44 AM

Comment from Connolly in The Age

The Swans knew well before they ran on to Telstra Dome on Saturday night there was a fair chance they'd be going home empty-handed. Sydney coach Paul Roos even seemed mildly surprised his team had run out the game as well as it did.

As has become its modus operandi, Sydney held plenty back all pre-season. You could see that in the games of key midfielders like Brett Kirk and Jude Bolton, both solid enough without displaying anything like the intensity that marked their finals campaigns last year. Paul Williams was off the boil, and Leo Barry had the proverbial "Barry Crocker" on a rampant Matthew Lloyd.

This was defeat with plausible explanations and was similar to Geelong two years ago, when the Cats were all but burned at the stake after heavy defeats in their first two games of the season.

Geelong was thumped by successive margins of 10 and nine goals, its finals chances summarily dismissed. Lost, however, in the rush to condemn, was a concerted crack at the pre-season premiership which had taken its toll, and the absence many injured senior players. It was a massive overreaction, one the Cats underlined by their consistency over the rest of the season.

In 2006, it might be a while yet before the Swans find their groove. But why shouldn't they take their time? They won only two of their first six games in 2005, but played out the season with the sort of relentless commitment that arguably might have been beyond them had they hit the start of the season harder.

**JF_Bay22_SCG** · 3 April 2006, 09:52 AM

Originally posted by Schneiderman
Well you have to ask yourself whether you feel better about a team that fought 22 + 3 all the way to the line in Melbourne, or about one that whooped the spoon favourites by ten goals in Sydney (last year).

Next week is a more honest test for us, and in Mike Sheehan's words, we are still 4-6 weeks behind a team like Essendon in terms of preparation.

If we cannot beat a highly ordinary Port team who have
-lost to an ordinary North team on their home ground
-have no midfield in the absense of Pickett Carr Stevens et al
-have NO IDEA how to play the SCG even when on the top of the ladder
-have smelly supporters

-are playing a team whipped up by the flag-raising cerem ony

then we will have problems.

We should SMASH Port! It will be an incredibly emotional day for quite a few of us.

JF

**desredandwhite** · 3 April 2006, 10:05 AM

While it is disappointing to have a first up loss like that, I can certainly understand the reasons why it might have happened (while not exactly making excuses for the team).

We are a few weeks underdone yet - that can be seen by the sluggish performance at stoppages, and the lacklustre disposals (even for us!!). Essendon screamed out of the blocks and monstered us in the first quarter by playing much better.

However, I did see enough signs in the midst of the shambles to suggest that we'll be much better with more game time under the belt. When we broke even in clearances and possessions, we were IMO the better team, even accounting for the sloppy skills. We're still getting used to the pace again after the offseason, and we'll be a completely different side in another 3-4 weeks.

**adnar** · 3 April 2006, 10:07 AM

I'm a bit worried with the softly softly "they will start eventually".. What if it never comes?